Thursday, November 1, 2012

The Lead Sheet: Twin Citites Jazz, November 2-8

I’ve
noticed all those signs that fall is fading into winter—colder nights, mostly
bare trees, dead or dying plants on the porch, and of course earlier sunsets.
But we’re lucky here in the Upper Midwest—no hurricanes,
sea surges, mass power outages…. And for the most part, no cancelations of our
favorite jazz gigs. We did lose out on the opportunity to hear the Maria
Schneider Orchestra last week as most of the band was stranded in New York. But that will
be rescheduled. And while things are still drying out and powering up on the
East Coast, we have another week packed full of music here – a welcome
distraction from the final days of campaigning and interpreting election
results.

Big Gigs This Week

Pat Moriarty

Friday, November 2.Phil
Hey and Pat Moriarty formed a formidable collaboration back in the 1970s,
built around their collective talents as improvisers. But their gigs in the
past decade can be counted on just a few fingers, making tonight’s duo
encounter at the Black Dog all the more special. Expect some takes on Ornette
Coleman as well as original inventions from both musicians. And some Halloween
treats and surprises.

A few
blocks away (and starting about 90 minutes later), a quartet of improvisers
takes flight at the Artists Quarter – Pete
Whitman, Peter Schimke, Billy Peterson and Kenny Horst combine their
talents for one night of post bop mischief. With Peterson and Host serving as
the drive train, the AQ has brought together a number of exciting combinations
of musicians over the past year, and this quartet is surely one of the best.

Dennis Spears

And across
the river, fans of vocal jazz should welcome the opportunity to hear Debbie Duncanand Dennis Spears on the Dakota stage. Each has a large,
well-deserved following, and together, they can ignite the coldest night. Come
ready to be entertained, during and between songs! And if you missed Debbie
Duncan at the Dakota, come over to St
Paul Saturday night and enjoy her own show at the
Artists Quarter.

Sunday, November 4. There’s way too much scheduled for
a peaceful Sunday! The Twin Cities Jazz Society’s Jazz From J to Z season
continues with a rare performance of the music of Bobby Hutcherson and Harold
Land, specifically from their quintet recordings of the 1960s. Saxophonist Dave
Milne and vibraphonist Dave Hagedorn lead “Spiral
Visions” in this reinterpretation of the brilliant bebop arrangements that
brought acclaim to such albums as Sprial and
Medina;
the rhythm section of Phil Aaron, Tom Lewis and Phil Hey will ensure ample
fireworks. This will be TCJS’s first concert at Landmark Center’s Weyerhaueser
Auditorium, which would seem to be a perfect setting for this music (5 pm).

Connie Evingson

There are
two opportunities today to hear Connie
Evingson reprise her salute to Peggy Lee at the Jungle Theater (4 and 7:30
pm). “Happy With the Blues” was first presented at the Jungle in 2009, then a
reinvention of Connie’s first Peggy Lee show and album, Fever. Connie has covered a
lot of music since then, from Django to the Beatles to Dave Frishberg, but she always
seems to come back to her fascination with Lee. And there’s plenty to be
fascinated with. Connie’s cohorts include Tanner Taylor, Dave Karr, Gordy
Johnson and Joe Pulice.

Soul Cafe

There are
few opportunities these days to enjoy Soul
Café, the long-standing ensemble that combines jazz and poetry. Core
personnel Steve Blons, Brad Holden and Laura Caviani will join forces with
percussion master Darryl Boudreaux tonight in the Art
Gallery of the Hennepin Avenue
United Methodist
Church, long home to Soul
Café which initially presented monthly performances based on a theme,
integrating jazz and poetry readings. For the past few years the gigs have been
more like two or three times per year, often involving additional musicians.
Tonight the focus is on “Generosity,” with music from the Ellington repertoire
and poems from Mary Oliver.

Charlie Hunter

Monday, November 5. Eclectic guitarist Charlie Hunter rose to fame with a
custom-made 8-string that covered the roles of keyboard and bass. Now using a
7-string, he still covers a wide range of musical influences which will be on
full display when he brings his trio to the Dakota. Down river at Jazz Central,
the featured artist will be Vincent Rose,
a very talented young musician who deserves more recognition. Vinnie will be
working out with another rising talent, bassist Jeremy Boettcher.

Tuesday, November 6.Vote early,
then come down to the Artists Quarter to sweat it out. Can’t think of a better
way to end a tumultuous election than an evening with Chris Lomheim, Billy Peterson and Kenny Horst. This combination
seems to bring out the tiger in Lomheim and the graceful swans in Peterson and
Horst –bop, ballads and improvisation at its finest. Bill Evans is smiling.

Snowblind (with guest Phil Aaron)

Wednesday, November 7. There’s got to be a morning, and evening,
after. Whatever the outcome Tuesday (and hopefully we will know for sure
today!), take the evening off and enjoy some of the area’s top brass talents in
Snowblind, returning to the Artists
Quarter. These guys were barely through college studies when they formed the
band, and now make up some of the top younger musicians on the local scene—Shilad
Sen, Scott Agster, Adam Rossmiller, Graydon Peterson and Reid Kennedy.

Bobb Fantauzzo, JazZen

Thursday, November 8. Let’s support our small jazz
venues! In St Paul,
hear the amazing acoustics with flautist Bobb
Fantauzzo and JazZen at the new Third Floor—Bobb will send his arsenal of
flutes skyward, at least through the open fourth floor. In Minneapolis, hear songbird Maud Hixson with Rick Carlson and Steve
Pikal on the new Thursday night vocal series at Jazz Central. Try a set in
each venue!

More Jazz Every Night

Check the
live jazz calendars on Jazz Police and
KBEM websites; sometimes you can
learn more on Facebook. Keep your ears open. Some more recommendations:

Sunday, November 4. Century College Jazz Ensemble at
Century College (3 pm); Colleen Raye CD Release at the Artists Quarter; Zacc
Harris Trio at the Riverview Wine Bar; Jerry O’Hagan Orchestra with Charmin
Michelle at Cinema Ballroom; James Buckley at Barbette

Monday, November 5. Charmin Michelle and Denny
Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Sophia Shorai at the Red Stag; JT’s Jazz Implosion
at the Icehouse

Dean Magraw

Tuesday, November 6. Dean Magraw and Davu Seru at the
Black Dog; Cory Wong Quartet, early show at the Artists Quarter; Bill Simenson
Big Band at Jazz Central

Wednesday, November 7. Maryann Sullivan at the Wine
Market; Steve Kenny and the Bastids, early set at the Artists Quarter; Charmin
Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Alden Ikeda Trio at Café Maude
(Penn Av); Josh Granowski and Patrick Harrison at the Red Stag

Thursday, November 8. Gypsy Mania at Hell’s Kitchen; Dave
Karr Quartet at the Artists Quarter; Acme Jazz Company at the Shorewood